FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the pricing of World Cup tickets, stating that the organisation must operate within market conditions, particularly in the United States where resale laws allow tickets to be sold far above face value.
FIFA has faced heavy criticism over ticket costs, with fan group Football Supporters Europe describing the pricing model as “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal”.
The group also filed a lawsuit with the European Commission in March, accusing FIFA of “excessive ticket prices” for the tournament.
Recently, FIFA’s resale platform listed four tickets for the July 19 final in New York at more than $2 million each.
Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino said such prices are driven by demand.
“If some people put on the resale market, some tickets for the final at $2 million, number one it doesn’t mean that the tickets cost $2 million,” Infantino said.
“And number two it doesn’t mean that somebody will buy these tickets,” he added. “And if somebody buys a ticket for the final for $2 million I will personally bring him a hot dog and a Coke to make sure that he has a great experience.”
Fans have compared current prices to those of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the most expensive final ticket was about $1,600, while for 2026 it is around $11,000 at face value.
Infantino maintained that the increase is justified.
“We have to look at the market — we are in the market in which entertainment is the most developed in the world. So we have to apply market rates,” he said.
He also noted that resale practices contribute to higher prices.
“In the US it is permitted to resell tickets as well. So if you were to sell tickets at the price which is too low, these tickets will be resold at a much higher price.
“And as a matter of fact, even though some people are saying that the ticket prices we have are high, they still end up on the resale market at an even higher price, more than double of our price.”
Infantino revealed that FIFA has received over 500 million ticket requests for the 2026 tournament, compared to fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 editions.
He added that 25 percent of group-stage tickets are priced below $300.
“You cannot go to watch in the US a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game of a certain level, for less than $300,” he said. “And this is the World Cup.”